When we encounter challenges and problems in our lives, it is often difficult for us to focus on our blessings. However, if we reach deep enough and look hard enough, we will be able to feel and recognize just how much we have been given.

Regardless of our circumstances, each of us has much for which to be grateful if we will but pause and contemplate our blessings. While there is much that is wrong in the world today, there are many things that are right and good. Our lives are blessed in countless ways.

How can we cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude? A grateful heart comes through expressing gratitude. This requires conscious effort – at least until we have truly learned and cultivated [the habit]. We can lift ourselves and others as well when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude.

Often we feel grateful and intend to express our thanks but forget to do so or just don’t get around to it. Those things which provide deep and lasting happiness and gratitude are the things which money cannot buy: our families, our faith, good friends, our health, our abilities, the love we receive from those around us. Let us not wait until it is too late for us to express that gratitude. May our individual lives reflect that marvelous virtue of gratitude.

—Thomas S. Monson

We live in a very hectic, fast-paced world. It’s easy to get caught up in all the things we have to do and forget to take time to just stop, look around and enjoy what we have.

Even more important, we fail to recognize how blessed we are and how much we have to be grateful for. And, in the worst-case scenario, we neglect to tell the people in our lives how much we appreciate them. On that note, I hope you will indulge me a bit of space to express some feelings of gratitude I have today.

First and foremost, I am grateful for my family. I am lucky enough to have two parents who raised me to be a strong, independent thinker. They helped provide me with opportunities to learn about life and the world around me. They taught me to work hard and develop my talents. And they encouraged me to set goals and reach higher than I thought I could.

I was fortunate to find a husband who accepts me for who I am, lifts me up when I am down and supports me more than I probably deserve. We have been blessed with four incredible children, each with their own unique personalities and skills. They make me laugh and cry, worry and wonder, sometimes all in one day.

I am grateful for the little things I see as I look around our home: a dishwasher, a bed, running water. I find joy in a good book, sounds of music and smells of freshly baked bread. I appreciate the beautiful flowers and vegetables that grew in our yard this summer. And I marvel at the computer technology that makes my life easier.

I am blessed to work with talented and good people, from my co-workers to our owners, from our advertisers to our subscribers. I feel so fortunate to be involved, even in a small way, with agriculture and the individuals associated with it. You are all truly some of the best kinds of people anywhere.

May each of us take time every day to develop the divine attribute of gratitude, to look for the good and positive things around us and to recognize how blessed we are. And, most importantly, take time to share how you feel, especially with the people you value most. FG

Lynn Olsen
Progressive Forage Grower Editor